The rumbling sounds of the door roughly shook the ground. As Raven and Lady Armita broke their embrace, they stood together and took a step inside the chamber. "Amazing," Raven thought, as she marveled at the grand room carved finely out of wood and stone. She couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence and awe as she took in the intricate carvings and details of the room.

She watched as if on cue, a group of darkly shrouded people entered the balcony of the room, and feelings of expectancy began to arise in her as they began to ascend from a stairway carved so intricately into the wall that they seemed to be floating down from the rafter. Lady Armita gently guided Raven forward, leading her to the center of what seemed to be a meeting place. The people began to sit in the large seats that surrounded the area.

"I'm going to join my place with the others. Please, don't fret, my dear," Lady Armita squeezed Raven's hand reassuringly before leaving her on the golden floor.

Raven shivered out of nervousness and sat hesitantly in the center of the circle. Filled with golden lacquer, the tiny symbols carved into the floor intrigued her despite her nerves. The symbols seemed to draw her into their hypnotic, rhythmic pattern, calming her racing heart.

"We are the members of the Grand Council of the Elder Moon Clans, and we welcome you to the City of Amber!" a loud voice boomed through the chamber, drawing Raven's attention to the speaker at the center. "I am Aldo, Elder of the Crescent Tribe of the West. I am presiding over tonight's council. Please be seated,"

Raven watched in amazement as all of the council members sat in unison, removing the hoods of their shrouds simultaneously. Despite being clothed in dark shrouds, she couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and admiration as she took in their elegance and grandeur.

"Welcome, Lady Raven," said a tall, regal-looking man with piercing blue eyes as he stood and stepped slightly forward before bowing before her. "I am Lord Tarek, a voice of the Clan of the Red Moon in the West."

Raven nodded in acknowledgment, feeling intimidated by his imposing presence. She couldn't help but wonder what the council wanted from her and why they had summoned her to this place.

Next to him, a beautiful woman with long silver hair and emerald green eyes began to speak. "I am Lady Selene, a representative of the Clan of the Silver Moon in the West," she said, giving Raven a warm smile.

One by one, the council members introduced themselves, each one belonging to a different western moon clan. Raven listened intently, trying her best to remember their names and titles. She couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at their power and influence in the world of magic.

After their introductions, Aldo, the presiding elder, motioned with his right hand, and they all stood in unison. Uncertain of what was about to happen, Raven watched as they all raised their hands to their chests, locking their hands together before they began to sing. As the council members lifted their voices in unison, their haunting melody filled the chamber with an otherworldly aura. Raven felt a shiver run down her spine as she listened to the words of an intimate song. This time, the melody was much different and darker, sending a chill through her as their voices rang throughout the room.

Hush, little one, close your eyes

Let the flames dance with the bluest ice

The moonlight rising, bright and strong

Yet, though broken, cursed distant song

Raven sang the last part she could remember along with elders, her mouth seemed to move on is on. As the elders continued to sing the eerie song, vivid memories of her parents running with her through a fiery forest flooded Raven's mind, causing her to shudder.

Until a daughter of moonlight born,

The demon lingers, a union torn,

But when Light and Darkness reconcile

The Shadow Forest will cease to defile.

As the Elders continue to sing, Raven closed her eyes feeling overwhelmed as the memories continues to invade her mind, seeming to be linked to the song.

So, Hush, little one, close your eyes,

Let the flames dance in your mind.

Cling to Moonlight’s icy stare

With Fire, one must someday pair.

Raven felt a sudden wave of calm as the Elders changed the tune of the song back to the melody of her mother's lullaby but began to sing more unfamiliar words.

Lover of Light and Son of Dark,

United in time, now far apart

Drift away, on leaves this night,

As one day balance comes to light.

As Raven closed her eyes, vivid images flooded her mind. She saw her mother dressed in all white with silver hair, and a sense of wonder filled her as a large white wolf appeared behind her mother's image. Just as the elder began to sing more, the images began to fade into darkness.

Sleep, my dear, and hear my song

Of fire, moonlight, and love so strong

May your dreams be filled with these,

And wake up to a heart at ease.

When the Elders' voices softened and faded into silence, Raven opened her eyes. The Elders were all seated, except for Lady Armita, and all of their eyes were intensely focused on Raven, and she shuffled nervously under their strength. "All is well, little Fitheach. I will now tell you what troubles your mind." Lady Armita pulled out the small black case wrapped in a black covering that Dante had been carrying with them on their journey. After she took it out of her cloak, she began to unwrap it carefully. Raven's heart filled with sadness at the sight of the delicate chain necklace, with a small diamond encased inside an amethyst. She could now see it adorned on her mother's neck. " Ah, don't cry my dear. I will explain everything."

Raven listened intently as Lady Armita began to tell a somber story of warring nations. She spoke of the great wolf packs of the Western District and their battles over the shadowlands, a region that was said to be rich with magical power. "Two powerful Moon Lords, one representing light and the other darkness, emerged from these conflicts and united the Western wolf packs under their rule." Lady Armita's voice echoed in the silence of the room, captivating everyone with her tale of the past. "Together, they built the Shadow Forest, a magical place that protected the shadowlands from outsiders. The Moon Lords created a land of peace and prosperity for all of the Western Packs. We still live off the strengths of those bonds formed so long ago." The other council members mumbled in agreement, filled with pride and intensity at Lady Armita's words.

"I don't understand where I fit," Raven said softly, intrigued but even more confused than before. Ignoring Raven's question, Lady Armita continued with her tale. She somberly recounted how the Moon Lords fell to the shadow demon and the Eastern wolf packs.

"The Kraven Wolf Lord, once a brother to the Moon Lord, blinded by hate, befriended a shadow demon, a spirit of chaos and destruction, but was hesitant to use its magic, feeling his own was strong enough. However, the power of the Light and Dark Moon Lords filled all the wolves of the Western pack, strengthening the force of their armies and forcing the Eastern Wolves away from the sacred Shadow Forest." Raven was transported back in time as vivid images of bloody battlefields flooded her mind as Lady Armita's words continued to fill the room.

"After a horrible defeat, the Kraven Wolf, angry, decided to call upon the power of the shadow demon. The demon and Kraven Wolf plotted a plan of deceit, a plan to exploit the kind and gentle Moon Lord of Light. He knew that if he approached him in private, he could talk with him." Raven watched as the old memories continued to unfold before her. "After receiving a secret letter from the Kraven Wolf, the Moon Lord of Light agreed to meet him at the edge of the Shadow Forest, a place they used to meet as children. While the Moon Lord of Darkness was asleep, the Moon Goddess, sensing his companion's danger, alerted him in a dream. Panicked, the Moon Lord rallied his armies and rushed to meet his brother before he walked into danger. As he suspected, the Kraven Lord had planned to meet the Moon Lord of Light with his armies, but the Moon Lord of Darkness reached his brother before he could make it to the meeting point." Raven watched as an army of wolves and men rushed into the forest, with a beautiful man with a black crescent moon on his forehead dressed in heavy furs at the head. He jumped from his horse, and the furs seemed to drop in a shadow as he shifted into the shape of a large black wolf and darted ahead, deeper into the forest. As if the scene had skipped, she watched as he jumped on an unexpected rider dressed in all-white furs with a silver crescent moon on his forehead.

"The Moon Lord of Light," she thought as the fuzzy images continued to move in front of her and Lady Armita continued to speak solemnly. "Angry that he had not been able to catch the Moon Lord of Light alone, the shadow demon provided him with a cursed arrow that he promised would hit his target no matter the distance." Raven felt overwhelmed with sadness as if she could remember what would happen. The Kraven Wolf, standing with his armies at the edge of the Shadow Forest, fired the cursed arrow, whispering the Moon Lord of Light's name as he released it from his bow. She watched as the Moon Lord of Darkness seemed to be explaining why he had brought his armies when suddenly a black and flaming arrow pierced through the Moon Lord of Light's back and chest. She could feel the pain in the eyes of the Moon Lord of Darkness as he watched his companion fall lifelessly to the ground. Then, a dark purple flame rose from the arrow in his chest, and the shadow demon within began to laugh.

Suddenly, all the elders stood up and began to recite the next part of the story in unison, "At that moment, the shadow demon uttered a curse over the Moon Lord of Light:

In the name of the moon, I curse thee,

Moon Lord of Light and thy progeny,

Henceforth no more daughters shall thee bear,

A fate that is destined to be rare.

And if any wolf of Eastern Pack,

Swears allegiance to the Shadow demon's track,

The powers of ice and wind shall they gain,

From each descendant's life taken in vain.

May this curse be bound and never undone,

By the light of the moon and power of the sun,

Until the end of time, it shall remain,

A warning to those who dare to betray."

The elders' voices rang eerily through the chamber before they all sat down, except for Lady Armita, who remained standing. "The Moon Lord of Darkness fell into a rage, ordering his armies to attack while he clung to his fallen comrade's lifeless body. Filled with the power of the Shadow demon, the Kraven Wolf sent his army into the Shadow Forest, and both armies began to spill blood on the sacred ground. The forest erupted with rage and violence, triggered by the emotions of the warriors, attacking all who fought and devouring many in their retreat. The Moon Lord of Darkness was unable to move, staying and weeping over his friend's body, unable to find the will to escape the turbulent forest." Lady Armita's tone shifted, and a sad image of the Moon Lord appeared before Raven. "As he wept, the forest felt his sadness, and the Goddess of the Forest appeared before him. Unable to heal his friend, she began to sing the song of prophecy before disappearing into the forest. The Moon Lord of Darkness was devastated by the loss of his brother but felt that he must protect the rest of the Eastern Packs from the shadow demon power bestowed upon them." Raven watched in anticipation as Lady Armita continued the story. She saw images of the Moon Lord carrying his fallen comrade back home through the bloody forest. The scene of sadness continued to unfold before her eyes.

Once they returned home, the Moon Lord of Darkness used his powers to hide the remaining members of the Moonlight Clan, the descendants of the Moonlight Clan. The members wept upon hearing about the death of their leader and the despicable curse. Together, it was still hope that the two clans would one day regain their powers.

Raven looked around, confused as the fuzzy scene began to fade away. She saw the council members, now all seated, looking at her with soft eyes.